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Official: At least 3 die in NJ shore motel fire

POINT PLEASANT BEACH | Fire destroyed a two-story motel at the Jerseyshore early Friday, killing at least three people and critically injuring three others, officials said.

Investigators and firefighters were sifting through the charred rubble of the Mariner's Cove Motor Inn several hours after the fire erupted, looking for any additional victims, said Al Della Fave, a spokesman for the Ocean County prosecutor's office.

Della Fave confirmed the number of victims but couldn't immediately provide further details. He said the injured were taken to JerseyShore University Medical Center.

The fire broke out just after 5:30 a.m. at the motel, which is a little more than two blocks from the beach. The cause was under investigation.

Point Pleasant Beach resident Tom Vogel said the motel, which had no concrete walls, went up "very, very fast."

"It went up like a Christmas tree," he told the Asbury Park Press.

June Formato, who works at the nearby Surfside Motel, told the newspaper: "When you see something like this, it's devastating. And to hear three lives were lost, so sad."